Valve Software unveiled a new virtual headset a month ago, and now it has a price.
Pre-orders begin tomorrow for the Valve Index, and it will cost $999 for a bundle that includes a pair of controllers and base stations to track movement. Index is compatible with HTC Vive controllers and base stations, and the headset on its own will cost $499. According to the Index website, the bundle will ship by June 28.
Valve worked with HTC on the Vive virtual reality headset. This time around, Valve is going it alone.
Valve is promising that the Index headset, which requires a PC to connect to, will feature “best-in-class visuals and audio.” The display uses dual 1440×1600 LCDs, with a fast framerate that Valve says will make the experience more realistic. The headset also includes nearfield off-ear speakers.
Valve is one of several companies working on a next-generation virtual reality headset. Its offering is more expensive than some of its competitors, such as Facebook’s upcoming $399 Oculus Rift S.
